West Kelowna News
Warriors set for BCHL playoffs
WEST KELOWNA - With some help on the last day of the regular season the West Kelowna Warriors are into the BCHL playoffs after 58 games. The Warriors, who grabbed the 4th seed in the Interior Division with a 6-2 win over Surrey on Saturday, were thankful for their 1st round opponent Penticton knocking off...
Yard sale planned for evicted trailer park tenants
WEST KELOWNA – Friends and supports for a West Kelowna couple evicted from the Jubilee Mobile Home Park have organized a yard sale to help raise money. Ross Arnott and Ed Schneider have until April 1 to move or vacate their manufactured home in the park on Westbank First Nation land on Boucherie Road where...
Wage increase approved for West Kelowna firefighters
WEST KELOWNA - West Kelowna firefighters' wages and property tax bills with both get a bit of a bump over the next few years following the approval of a new collective agreement. West Kelowna council has ratified the new collective agreement between the International Association of Firefighters Local 4457 and the District of West Kelowna....
Rebuilt West Kelowna landmark grabs heritage award
WEST KELOWNA - The $537,000 CNR Wharf Project in West Kelowna has won a Central Okanagan Heritage Society award. It was determined by District council in 2010 the CNR Wharf was in need of reconstruction having deteriorated to the point it put the public at risk. The popular swimming area was closed to the public...
Employee injured in industrial explosion
WEST KELOWNA – An explosion at an industrial park in West Kelowna sent an employee to the hospital with serious injuries Monday. The call came in around 12:30 p.m. with reports of a gas explosion at 2555 Auburn Rd. Although West Kelowna Fire Rescue declined to comment because the investigation is ongoing, Global Okanagan reports...
Mar Jok Elementary School rings in Chinese New Year with grand opening
WEST KELOWNA - A new West Kelowna elementary school has held its grand opening and the opportunity to bring the Chinese New Year — year of the goat — into the celebration wasn't ignored. The event on Wednesday, Feb. 29 was attended by the family of Mar Jok, the new school's namesake. He immigrated to...
Westbank First Nation land swap deal finally hammered out
KELOWNA – The Westbank First Nation will finally be compensated for the land it agreed to give up a decade ago for construction of the Westside Road interchange. The tentative deal between the province and the First Nation was announced today, Feb. 20, in a media release. The land and cash deal includes four separate...
Community centre set to reopen nearly 18 months after arson
WEST KELOWNA - The Westbank Lions Community Centre, the unofficial meeting place for the West Kelowna community, has officially recovered after being destroyed by fire nearly 18 months ago. The hall was set on fire in September 2013 and while it was initially thought it would need to be torn down the structure was able...
Lions Hall arsonist sentenced to prison
KELOWNA - The man who burned down the Westbank Lions Hall was sentenced to federal prison today. Kerry Cooper, 30, will serve three and a half years behind bars for setting the fire. He did it to get revenge on the woman who was getting married there the next morning, Sept. 1, 2013. Amanda Nevdoff had...
Arsonist admits to burning down West Kelowna Lion’s Hall
KELOWNA – Kerry Robert Cooper pleaded guilty Thursday morning to burning down the West Kelowna Lion’s Hall. Cooper, 30, entered the plea from North Fraser Pre-Trial, declining legal representation. Crown prosecutor Dave Grabavac says Cooper admitted to the Sept. 1 arson after seeing video footage of him buying gas, walking in the direction of the...
Man charged with arson for West Kelowna Lions Hall fire
WEST KELOWNA - A man will answer to the charge of arson for the fire that severely damaged the Westbank Lions Hall Sept. 1, 2013. Kerry Robert Cooper, 30, of Kelowna appeared in Kelowna Provincial Court May 12. He was remanded in custody to appear again May 13. The building, located at 2466 Main St....
Lions Hall likely torched for revenge against bride
'HE IS CAPABLE OF ANYTHING.' WEST KELOWNA - The Westbank Lions Hall may have been burned down simply out of revenge against the bride set to be married there that morning. Kerry Cooper, 30, is now in custody and charged with arson in the Sept. 1, 2013 blaze. His former girlfriend was a bridesmaid in...
Community Hall won’t be torn down after all
WEST KELOWNA - The Westbank Lions’ Hall that was thought destroyed by a suspicious fire two months ago may not be torn down after all. According to Westbank Lions club president Wayne Atkinson, the heritage building, which was built in the 1930’s, will be completely repaired and continue to serve residents of West Kelowna for...
Arson investigation underway for Lions Community Hall fire
WEST KELOWNA - The fire that defaced West Kelowna's community hall Monday morning is now believed to be arson. The two storey 80-year-old building on Main Street caught fire just after 8:30 a.m. Monday, with 20 firefighters on scene to fight the flames. Police announced yesterday the incident was suspicious in nature, but now have...
Club, District evaluate options in wake of Westbank Lion’s Hall fire
“IT’S WHERE OUR COMMUNITY MEETS.” WEST KELOWNA - Still no word on the cause of the fire that destroyed the Westbank Lion’s Community Centre in downtown West Kelowna. Investigators have been on the scene of Sunday morning’s devastating fire. The historic landmark went up in flames as members of the community looked on in disbelief....